Bungo



March 17, 1964 J. BUNGO 3,124,957

ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE COMPENSATOR Filed May 29, 1959 A I3 I7 'III' H I] lo l8 7 Q C I FIG 1 l0 D l EA-g I4 f} |a I u I o E I6 l2 u I k I RE I I i F k .fi FIG. 2

INVENTOR. FIG. 3 JOSEPH su/vao United States Patent 3,124,957 ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE COMPENSATOR Joseph Bongo, Totowa, N.J., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 29, 1959, Ser. No. 816,951 9 Claims. (Cl. 73-6624) This invention relates to a mechanical adjustable temperature compensator capable of providing an adjustment in either of two opposing directions for any given temperature change.

In this invention there is disclosed a temperature compensating device comprising at least a pair of temperature responsive elements such as bi-mctallic strips held in a predetermined relationship with respect to each other by means of an adjustable clamping device. The strips are positioned so that a change in temperature will cause the strips to flex relative to each other. The compensator is connected in a system in series with the mechanical linkage at opposite ends of said strips.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a con sideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustration purposes only and is not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention connected in series with a linkage system to be compensated.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single bi-metallic strip having a centrally located slot for accepting a slideable adjusting clamp, and

FIG. 3 is a series of six drawings illustrating in schematic form how a selection of opposing directional movements may be achieved for any given temperature change.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention comprising a first temperature responsive element illustrated as an elongated bimetallic strip and a second temperature responsive element 11 also illustrated as an elongated bi-metallic strip. Intermediate strips 10 and 11 is a slideably mounted clamp 12 arranged to secure strips 10 and 11 at the points of attachment in spaced parallel relationship to one another. Clamp 12 is rigidly attached to strips 143 and 11 and is adjustable lengthwise of strips 10 and 11 to change the effective length of the strips. Strips 1i) and 11 are so positioned that an increase in temperature will cause the strips to flex in opposite direction and diverge from each other. As will be expla ned later, it is not necessary that strips 10 and 11 be identical or matched pairs although matched strips are illustrated in the drawing for convenience in describing the operation of the invention. The clamp 12 comprises a bushing 13 located between strips 10 and 11 and a screw 14 extending through suitably placed slots in said strips and terminating in a nut 15. FIG. 2 illustrates strip 11 having a centrally located slot 16 in order to receive clamp 12. Strip 10 is constructed in a similar manner.

In operation the temperature compensator is connected in series with the linkages of the system to be compensated. One end of the external system is illustrated as a link 17 and is attached to one end of strip 19. The other end of the external system is illustrated as link 18 and is pivotally connected by means of pivotal connection 19 to the opposite end of strip 11 in order to illustrate a convenient means for controlling the direction of the compensating force. Link 17 is illustrated being connected to a fixed point for convenience in illustrating the direction of the compensation movement. The actual connection of link 17 will be determined by the external 3,124,957 Patented Mar. 17, 15354 system being compensated. By connecting opposite ends of strips 16 and 11 to links 17 and 13 it is possible to achieve maximum movements or control of the compensator. However, there may be situations where such connections are impractical or impossible and it is to be understood that this invention may be practiced by having the connections intermediate the end points.

FIG. 1 illustrates a neutral condition of temperature on strips 10 and 11. The dimension L will be used as a reference point in explaining the effect of moving sliding clamp 12. Dotted line 21) illustrates the approximate movement of strip 10 with a change in temperature and in a similar manner dotted line 21 illustrates the approximate movement of strip 11 with a similar change in temperature. With sliding clamp 12 in the uppermost position as illustrated and considering a given temperature change it can be seen that strip 10 will have a negligible effect on changing the dimension L, whereas strip 11 will have a maximum effect in tending to increase L to a maximum dimension. Considering now the same temperature change but assuming the sliding clamp is moved to the lowermost position, it will be shown that strip 11 will have a negligible effect on changing the dimension L, whereas strip 11) will have the maximum effect. This control of the deflection in either direction for any given temperature change is the basis of the present invention and will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a series of six line drawings showing the degree of movement available by moving the sliding clamp 12 from the uppermost to the lowest position. Drawing 3A shows the neutral position that would be present without any effect of temperature on strips 10 or 11. Drawings 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F all illustrate the effect of moving clamp 12 to a different position for a given temperature change. FIG. 3B shows clamp 12 in the uppermost position thereby allowing strip 11 to move member 18 a maximum distance to the left of center since, as illustrated, strip 10 will have a negligible effect on the total movement of member 18. Drawing 3C illustrates clamp 12 moved approximately one-quarter of the total distance of strip 10 or 11 and shows how strip 10 has an increasing effect in reducing the total movement and, further, how the action of strip 11 is being reduced since it must pivot about clamp 12. Referring now to FIG. 3D, clamp 12 is shown at a midway position and illustrates how strip 16 has an increasing eifect in producing movement to the right of center which is illustrated as being counter-balanced by the action of strip 11 which is tending to produce movement to the left of center. The net result is a substantially zero change as will be apparent by comparing FIG. 3D with FIG. 3A. FIG. 3B shows clamp 12 at a three-quarter position and illustrates the increasing control exercised by strip 10 in producing movement to the right of center. In FIG. 3F the clamp 12 is in the lowest position thereby causing strip 11 to have a negligible effect in producing movement to the left whereas strip 119 has the greatest effect in producing movement to the right. FIG. 3 illustrates strips 11 and 11 having substantially the same temperature coefiicient and shows in FIG. 3D a neutral position with the clamp 12 at a mid-center position. It will be apparent that when bi-metallic strips 10 and 11 having different temperature coefiicients are used it would simply mean a change in the position of clamp 12 for producing a zero change condition.

In considering the operation of the compensator it will be recognized that a certain but limited amount of rotation will be imparted to member 13. The effect of the rotation will be to change the actual adjustment. However, this change in dimension can also be cancelled out by selectively adjusting clamp 12. For those situations where the output at member 18 must be in a predetermined position, it will be apparent that the use of the pivot illustrated as reference 19 on strip 11 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together with suitable guide means not illustrated will prove adequate.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of elongated temperature responsive elements, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements together in spaced parallel relationship to one another at the points of attachment so that the elements flex in opposite directions upon a change in temperature to compensate for the temperature change, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to change the effective lengths of the elements.

2. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of elongated temperature responsive elements, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements together in spaced relationship so that the elements flex oppositely relative to one another upon a change in temperature to compensate for the temperature change, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to change the effective lengths of the elements.

3. An adjustable temperature compensating device adapted to be positioned between a pair of links in a lever system, comprising a pair of elongated temperature responsive elements connected at opposite ends to the links, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements together at the points of attachment in spaced parallel relationship to one another so that the elements fiex in opposite directions with a change in temperature to compensat for the temperature change, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to change the eifective lengths of the elements.

4. An adjustable temperature compensating device adapted to be positioned between a pair of links in a lever system, comprising a pair of elongated temperature responsive elements connected to the ends of the links, and a member securing said elements together in spaced relationship so that the elements flex oppositely relative to one another with a change in temperature to compensate for the temperature change, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to change the efiective lengths of the elements.

5. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of elongated temperature responsive elements, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements at the points of attachment in spaced relationship to one another, said member being adjustable lengthwise of said elements to vary the effective lengths of the elements.

6. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of elongated bimetallic temperature responsive elements, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements at the points of attachment in spaced relationship to one another, said members being adjustable lengthwise of said elements to vary the effective lengths of the elements.

7. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of temperature responsive elements, and a clamp member rigidly attached to each of said elements and disposed between said elements and securing said elements at the points of attachment in spaced relationship to one another to permit the elements to flex relative to one another, said clamp member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to vary the effective lengths of the elements.

8. An adjustable temperature compensating device comprising a pair of bimetallic elements, and a single member rigidly attached to each of said elements and disposed be tween said elements and securing said elements at the points of attachment in spaced relationship to one another and permitting said elements to hex relative to one another with a change in temperature, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to vary the effective lengths of the elements.

9. An adjustable temperature compensating device including a pair of temperature responsive elements, and a member rigidly attached to said elements and securing said elements at the points of attachment in spaced relationship to one another and permitting said elements to flex in opposition to one another with a change in temperature, said member being adjustable lengthwise of the elements to vary the effective lengths of the elements.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,525 Walker July 19, 1870 185,094 Fewkes Dec. 5, 1876 260,657 Brush July 14, 1882 1,998,345 Truman Apr. 16, 1935 2,220,368 Heidbrink Nov. 5, 1940 2,338,474 Wilson Jan. 4, 1944 2,791,837 Denslinger May 14, 1957 

7. AN ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE COMPENSATING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE ELEMENTS, AND A CLAMP MEMBER RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID ELEMENTS AND SECURING SAID ELEMENTS AT THE POINTS OF ATTACHMENT IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER TO PERMIT THE ELEMENTS TO FLEX RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, SAID CLAMP MEMBER BEING ADJUSTABLE LENGTHWISE OF THE ELEMENTS TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE LENGTHS OF THE ELEMENTS. 